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The holidays are upon us and who has money to throw away? Not me! So here are a few ideas how to save money by recycling some of your leftover holiday foods into fun meals for your family. This episode was conceived after speaking with Julie LaFontaine the Executive Director of the Open Door Food Pantry (pictured above, with Lily). We were talking about what I could do to help spread the message of the Open Door and we came up with this show.

I went to the grocery store and bought the items that will be included in the Thanksgiving meals that are being donated to the Open Door. I went home, cooked a traditional turkey dinner including turkey, potatoes, squash, carrots, stuffing, gravy, onions and cranberry sauce. Also in the basket is a 5 pound bag of apples so I had all of that to work with. And this is what I came up with.

These are the recipes for Inspired Cooking that is airing on Cape Ann TV tonight at 8:30 and again Friday at 4:30 and Sunday morning at 11:30.

Because you will be using your leftovers (and I don’t know how much you have) and I used mine, the quantities are not exact. Taste what you are putting together, add dash of something here and a little more of something there and you will come up with a fun cost effective meal for your family.

Turkey Dinner in a Stuffing Muffin

Mix turkey and stuffing in a small bowl. Press stuffing into bottom and up sides of cups to make a crust. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the turkey and gravy mixture into the stuffing crust. Place a small slice or tablespoon of cranberry sauce on top of the turkey mixture.

Place about ¼ cup mashed potatoes in the palm of your hand and form into a patty. Place the patty on top of the filled stuffing cup.

Repeat using up the remaining leftovers.

Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Remove pan from oven and allow cups to cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Remove from pans and serve with additional gravy if desired.

Pulled Turkey Sliders with CranApple Slaw and Crispy Oven Fries

For the sandwiches you will need:

Leftover or fresh small rolls
Turkey, pulled into small pieces
Barbecue sauce

Mix turkey with bbq sauce. Heat either slowly on the stovetop or covered in the oven at 350 degrees until hot. Toast the rolls and slather with additional barbeque sauce if desired. Place warm turkey on the bun and top with the slaw

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, toss cup potatoes with a few tablespoons olive oil to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Also great with a little garlic powder sprinkled on.

Bake for 35-40 minutes until crisp on one side. Flip fries over and cook for an additional 10 minutes until cooked through. Enjoy!

And last but not least, Lily in her fabulous hat and chef’s coat. Let me tell you, this kid can cook! She came in 4th in an apple pie contest at Brooksby Farm on Sunday–there was no youth category–she competed against the adults! I am so proud of her!

Like this:

I don’t know what happened to supermarket apples, but they don’t have one tenth of the flavor as the one’s that you pick at the orchards. The Mrs hasn’t made apple crisp yet, but I’m craving it- with some vanilla bean ice cream!

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Free GMG Gloucester Sticker

As long as supplies last if any GMG folks want a bumper sticker but can't drop down the dock, just send a self addressed and stamped envelope longer then 7 and a half inches and I'll drop one in the mail for you.

Send the self addressed and stamped envelope to the dock at 95 East Main St Gloucester Ma 01930 care of Joey (put my name in big letters to make sure it gets to me)